The  Winnebago  Indian  Mission 

of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States 

located  at 


BLACK  RIVER  FALLS  AND  NEILLSVILLE,  WIS. 
BY  REV.  THEODORE  P.  BOLLIGER,  D.D. 


MORNING  CONGREGATION,  AUG.  13,  1922 


OUTLINE  OF  THE  HISTORY 

The  Mission  was  begun  in  1878  by  Rev.  Jacob  Hauser.  He 
served  until  1885.  Since  that  date  Rev.  Jacob  Stucki  has  been  in 
charge. 

The  forty-four  years  of  the  mission  may  be  divided  into  three 
periods. 

The  Period  of  Hope — 1878-1898.  From  the  founding  of  the 
Mission  to  the  baptism  of  the  first  convert.  During  this  period  a 
day  school  for  the  children  was  regularly  conducted  and  preaching 
services  were  held  as  often  as  the  services  of  a suitable  interpreter 


could  be  obtained;  for  only  a few  of  the  Winnebagoes  could  speak 
English.  Rev.  Hauser  taught,  preached,  visited  the  Indians  in 
their  wigwams  and  shacks,  and  diligently  studied  the  difficult  Win- 
nebago language.  He  reduced  the  language  to  writing,  compiled 
a dictionary  of  1500  words  and  beean  a grammar.  Rev.  Jacob 
Stucki  continued  the  mission  along  the  lines  laid  down  by  his  prede- 
cessor. 

The  Winnebagoes  for  sixty  years  had  been  so  mercilessly 
oppressed,  cheated  and  robbed  by  the  White  Man  that  they  were 
unwilling  to  listen  to  the  White  Man’s  religion.  By  means  of  thir- 
teen treaties  not  one  of  which  was  kept  by  the  White  Man,  the 
Winnebagoes  had  been  deprived  of  their  lands  in  Wisconsin,  the 
purchase  price  was  held  “in  trust”  by  the  government,  and  the 
interest  promised  them  annually  was  withheld  from  all  those  who 
refused  to  live  on  the  reservation  in  Nebraska.  The  children  were 
willingly  sent  to  the  school;  but  the  old  folks  declared:  The  Indian 
religion  is  better  than  the  White  Man’s. 

The  Period  of  Harvest — 1898-1917.  From  the  baptism  of  the 
first  convert  to  the  opening  of  the  Boarding  School.  David  Deco- 
rah, King  of  Thunder,  John  Stacy  and  wife  were  the  first  converts. 
From  year  to  year  the  number  increased  until  a congregation  of  66 
souls  has  been  gathered.  These  Indian  Christians  have  made  a 
good  record.  Not  one  has  been  a backslider.  Not  one  has  been 
guilty  of  a crime.  No  one  has  disgi-aced  the  name  of  Christ.  All 
the  men  are  willing  and  able  to  pray  at  the  services.  In  addition 
to  the  baptized  ones  there  have  been  many  timid  adherents  who 
shrank  from  publicly  breaking  away  from  their  relatives  and 
friends,  but  nevertheless  by  their  attendance  and  interest  gave  evi- 
dence that  God’s  Spirit  was  working  in  their  lives.  The  influence 
of  the  Mission  has  reached  practically  every  Winnebago  family  in 
Wisconsin  and  a very  marked  change  in  their  behaviour  has 
resulted. 

As  the  Christian  life  and  faith  can  grow  strong  and  beautiful 
only  as  they  are  directed  and  nourished  by  the  Word  of  God,  Rev. 
Stucki  labored  for  years  to  translate  parts  of  the  Bible  into  the 
Winnebago  tongne.  John  Stacy  rendered  invaluable  aid  in  com- 
pleting this  task.  The  four  Gospels,  Acts,  Genesis,  and  Exodus  19, 
20  were  translated.  The  American  Bible  Society  published  the 
Winnebago  Scripture  in  1907. 

The  Period  of  the  Boarding  Scjiool — Since  1917.  From  the 
opening  of  the  Boarding  School  until  now.  When  the  day  school 
was  begun  in  1878,  several  hundred  Winnebagoes  lived  within  walk- 
ing distance  of  the  school.  As  land  values  increased  in  Wisconsin 
many  square  miles  formerly  counted  as  of  little  account  were 
bought  up  and  fenced  in  for  pasture.  This  forced  the  Indians  to 
scatter  and  find  new  locations.  At  present  they  are  living  in  small 
or  larger  groups  throughout  six  counties.  A Boarding  School  there- 
fore became  an  absolute  necessity.  In  the  summer  of  1917  modest 
accommodations  were  prepared  for  housing  and  feeding  about  25. 
From  the  beginning  applicants  had  to  be  turned  away.  The  space 
intended  for  25  had  to  serve  for  as  many  as  42.  The  crowding 
became  dangerous  to  the  health  of  the  children.  Two  epidemics  of 
influenza  swept  through  the  school.  There  was  no  room  for  the 

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children  to  read  or  study  and  no  place  within  doors  where  they 
could  amuse  themselves. 

The  demand  for  larger  quarters  could  no  longer  be  resisted, 
and  hence  in  1920,  the  new  building  at  Neillsville  was  be^n.  It 
is  located  25  miles  from  the  old  mission.  A modern  building  was 
erected,  providing  home  and  school  facilities  for  about  75  children 
and  the  necessary  working  staff.  At  the  opening  of  the  school  in 
September,  1921,  the  building  was  filled  and  about  40  applications 
had  to  be  i-efused  for  lack  of  room.  The  building  stands  on  a 3314 
acre  farm  beautifully  located  along  the  Black  River.  The  home  of 
the  superintendent  and  the  manual  training  building  are  near  the 
main  building.  The  buildings  with  their  equipment  and  the  farm 
represent  an  investment  of  about  $80,000. 

Between  1878  and  1922  a total  of  472  individuals  has  been  en- 
rolled. About  300  remained  long  enough  to  learn  to  read,  write 
and  figure  a little.  Of  these  three  score  passed  through  six  grades 
or  more,  five  entered  the  High  School,  and  three  have  had  some 
college  work. 


AIMS  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

First.  To  educate  the  head.  The  course  of  study  includes  the 
work  done  in  the  eight  grades  of  the  public  schools.  Those  who 
take  the  full  work  are  prepared  to  enter  the  High  School. 

Second.  To  educate  the  hand.  The  Winnebagoes  with  few 
exceptions  must  earn  their  living  by  the  work  of  their  hands; 
hence,  manual  training  receives  much  attention.  The  girls  are 
taught  to  patch,  darn  and  sew;  as  well  as  to  perform  the  usual 
household  duties  in  the  kitchen,  dining  room,  and  laundry.  The 
boys  also  have  their  tasks  in  the  household  and  on  the  farm.  They 
help  with  the  chores  and  the  work  of  the  farm  and  garden.  An 
elementary  course  in  carpentry  has  also  been  added. 

Third.  To  educate  the  heart.  Superintendent  Benj.  Stucki 
says:  “To  lead  these  children  to  know  Jesus  and  to  accept  him  as 
their  Saviour  is  the  main  spring  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  school.  All 
other  aims  are  considered  subservient  to  this.  We  recognize  that 
without  Christianity  all  efforts  towai’d  bettering  the  temporal  wel- 
fare of  these  Indians  can  be  only  in  a small  measure  successful. 
For  these  reasons,  the  religious  training  has  been  prosecuted  with 
special  diligence  in  Sunday  School,  devotions,  daily  Bible  classes, 
song  services  and  catechetical  instructions.” 

CONCLUSION 

The  education  of  the  Indian  without  Christianity  is  a failure. 
Only  a Christian  training  can  bring  enduring  benefit  to  the  Ameri- 
can Indian. 


A PRAYER 

“0  Christ  our  Lord,  Thou  Shepherd  of  the  Indians,  Thou 
Friend  of  the  little  red  children,  show  Thyself  to  the  Winnebago 
tribe.  Subdue  many  hearts ; shed  divine  peace  into  many  lives ; 
reveal  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation  to  many  souls.  To  Thee  we  con- 
secrate this  work.  Amen. 


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LITTLE  PICTURES  OF  SCHOOL  LIFE 

1921-1922 

On  the  opening  day  before  the  pupils  were  allowed  the  free- 
dom of  the  building,  they  had  to  be  scrubbed  from  head  to  foot. 
The  head  required  special  attention.  It  was  washed  with  coal  oil 
to  rid  it  of  vermin.  Sometimes  the  battle  against  the  cooties  re- 
quires the  application  of  all  the  known  formulas  before  the  victory 
is  won. 


Skin  diseases,  such  as  rash,  itch,  scabs  and  eczema  are  com- 
mon. After  the  pupils  are  clean,  these  are  attacked.  One  of  the 
regular  daily  duties  of  the  workers  in  charge  is  to  attend  to  the 
many  sores,  bruises  and  wounds  which  the  youngsters  manage  to 
get.  Toothaches  demand  the  right  of  way  at  all  hours  of  the  day 
or  night. 


Ninety  per  cent  of  the  children  enrolled  come  from  heathen 
homes  and  yet  all  of  them  gladly  learn  the  hymns,  and  Bible  stories 
and  verses.  During  the  last  school  year  forty-two  of  the  choicest 
hymns  were  memorized  and  also  scores  of  Bible  verses. 


When  the  county  Sunday  School  convention  was  held  in  Neills- 
ville  last  February,  the  Indian  School  was  invited  to  give  a forty 
minutes’  program.  They  sang,  recited,  repeated  Bible  verses  and 
gave  their  exercises.  The  interest  of  the  audience  reached  its  cli- 
max when  one  of  the  older  girls  repeated  an  entire  chapter  from 
memory  instead  of  the  usual  Scripture  reading.  The  school  won 
many  friends  that  day. 


The  smaller  boys  were  taught  how  to  mend,  sew  on  buttons, 
darn  stockings,  make  the  beds  and  help  about  the  building.  This 
had  a wholesome  restraining  influence  upon  them,  impressing  the 
lessons:  Be  careful;  Keep  things  neat;  Don’t  rip  your  clothes. 
Clothes  do  not  seem  to  rip  so  often  when  the  boys  have  to  attempt 
the  mending  themselves. 


One  of  the  older  girls  who  was  not  yet  a professed  Christian 
and  whose  parents  are  still  heathen,  wrote  a little  essay  on  the 
theme,  “Why  I am  at  the  Winnebago  Indian  Mission  School.” 
This  essay  contained  two  remarkable  sentences  which  are  given 
here.  “I  was  very  anxious  to  come  to  school  here  because  they 
teach  us  about  the  love  of  Christ  and  learn  about  our  Lord  so  we 
may  become  good  Christians  and  come  unto  Jesus  when  we  die  and 
live  with  him  forever.  I hope  I may  learn  many  things  about  our 
Lord,  so  when  I go  home  I can  tell  my  father  and  mother  about 
the  good  things  I learned  about  Jesus,  and  ask  them  to  worship 
him  always  so  they  may  become  good  Christians  also.” 

Superintendent  Benj.  Stucki  says:  “The  health  of  the  children 
was  exceptional.  The  Lord  preserved  us  from  epidemics  and 
there  was  only  one  case  of  serious  illness,  a case  of  pneumonia. 
The  average  attendance  for  the  entire  year  was  98  per  cent.  The 
per  cent  was  never  lower  than  96  and  for  several  months 
reached  100.” 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/winnebagoindianmOOboll 


May  2l  was  the  most  inspiring  day  of  the  entire  school  year. 
Three  of  the  older  boys  and  three  girls  after  most  careful  instruc- 
tion confessed  their  faith  and  were  baptized.  Of  their  own  accord, 
without  any  urging,  they  had  resolved  to  become  Christians  and 
unite  with  the  Church.  The  Word  and  Spirit  of  God  had  worked 
the  great  decision.  Rev.  A.  V.  Casselman  said  of  these  young  peo- 
ple: “They  were  the  most  earnest  and  serious-minded  class  I have 
ever  seen.  There  was  a look  of  knowing  earnestness  in  the  faces 
of  these  young  Christians,  as  they  answered  the  questions  and  con- 
fessed their  faith,  that  was  inspiring.”  All  the  parents  of  these 
converts  are  still  heathen,  and  some  of  them  with  bitterness  had 
tried  to  intimidate  and  prevent  their  children  from  becoming  Chris- 
tians. Though  it  meant  hardships  and  suffering  not  one  of  them 
was  turned  back  or  even  hesitated. 


SCHOLARS  AND  MISSION  WORKERS 
CLOSING  DAY,  MAY,  1922 

WAYS  OF  HELPING 

Adopting  a child.  We  invite  organizations  to  “adopt  a child” 
for  a year  and  contribute  $50  or  more  towards  its  support.  The 
name  and  picture  of  the  “adopted”  child  will  be  sent  to  the  con- 
tributor, as  well  as  other  information,  if  desired. 

Clothing  and  bedding.  Clothing  which  is  appropriate  for  the 
wigwams  in  the  woods  will  not  suit  the  conditions  at  Neillsville. 
The  pagan  Indians  are  generally  very  poor.  Hence  the  friends  of 
the  Indians  must  supply  the  lack.  Clothing,  stockings,  caps,  shoes, 
bedding,  blankets,  towels,  handkerchiefs,  etc.,  are  always  welcome. 
Worn  articles,  if  still  in  good  condition,  can  be  put  to  good  use. 

Little  extras.  Good,  nourishing  food  is  always  furnished,  but 
the  children  greatly  appreciate  “little  extras.”  The  good  women 


of  the  Church  know  this  and  numerous  packages  of  cakes,  cookies, 
candies,  fruit,  jelly,  etc.  are  being  sent.  There  is  small  danger 
that  too  many  “goodies”  will  be  received.  Children’s  books,  games, 
and  toys  are  also  gladly  received. 

All  inquiries  concerning  the  “adopting  of  a child,”  or  the 
clothing,  etc.,  needed  at  any  particular  time,  or  the  “little  extras” 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Superintendent  Winnebago  Indian 
School,  Neillsville,  Wis. 


WINNEBAGO  INDIAN  SCHOOL,  NEILLSVILLE,  WIS. 
SHOWING  THE  EAST  AND  SOUTH  FRONTS 


INDIAN  MISSION  DAY 

The  Tri-Synodic  Board  of  Home  Missions,  which  conducts  the 
home  missionary  operations  within  the  boundaries  of  the  S3mod  of 
the  Northwest,  the  Central  Synod  and  the  former  Synod  of  the 
Southwest,  requested  the  synods  last  year  (1921)  to  recommend 
the  observance  of  the  second  Sunday  in  November  as  Indian  Mis- 
sion Day.  The  Synods  unanimously  endorsed  the  request. 

The  Tri-Synodic  Board  therefore  calls  upon  pastors,  congrega- 
tions, and  Sunday  Schools  to  receive  special  offerings  for  the  Win- 
nebago Indian  Mission  on  that  day  or  some  other  suitable  day.  Let 
each  congregation  do  something  special  for  our  Indians  during 
November. 

Congregations,  societies  and  individuals  desiring  to  make  a 
special  offering  should  send  their  money  gifts  directly  to  Rev.  Theo- 
dore P.  Bolliger,  1918  West  Lawn  Ave.,  Madison,  Wis. 


Published  by  the  Central  Publishing  House,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  for  the 
Trl-Synodlc  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the 
United  States.  October,  1922. 


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